Cosmetology at Empire Beauty School-Manhattan

Empire Beauty School-Manhattan's cosmetology program delivers below-average earnings that should give parents pause. With first-year median earnings of just $15,322—significantly below both the national average ($17,113) and New York state median ($17,026)—graduates earn roughly $1,700-$1,800 less annually than typical cosmetology program alumni. Among New York's 46 cosmetology programs, this ranks in the 40th percentile, meaning 60% of similar programs in the state produce better earning outcomes.

The debt picture is mixed but manageable. At $10,667, student debt sits slightly above both national and state medians, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70—meaning graduates owe about 8.5 months of their first-year salary. While this isn't catastrophic, it's concerning when paired with the low earning potential. The 18% earnings growth to $18,075 by year four helps somewhat, but even these later earnings remain well below what graduates from top New York programs achieve (the best programs see first-year earnings above $22,000).

For parents considering this investment, the numbers suggest looking elsewhere in New York's competitive cosmetology market. With 46 programs to choose from and many delivering substantially better outcomes, Empire Beauty School-Manhattan appears to underperform relative to both cost and location advantages. The robust sample size makes these findings reliable, not statistical noise.